US fertility rates sink to new low

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U.S. fertility rates have fallen to a new low, with federal data showing about 3.6 million births last year and a general fertility rate of 53.1 births per 1,000 women ages 15 to 44. The decline continues a 20-year slide, with birth rates falling for women under 35 while rising for women over 35.

What the data shows

The latest CDC reporting says the overall fertility rate has kept trending downward, reaching the lowest level on record. Teen birth rates also continued to fall, while women ages 30 to 34 now have the highest birth rate among age groups.

Why it matters

The drop reflects a long-running shift in when — and whether — Americans are having children. Experts say the pattern is tied to delayed childbearing, economic pressures, and broader changes in family formation.